Leigh Park grandmother left with 'horrendous' piles of rubbish in garden for months

A GRANDMOTHER has voiced her frustration after being left with 'horrendous' piles of rubbish - that included mattresses and a freezer - in her new council home for seven months.

By Fiona Callingham

Published 30th Apr 2021, 22:04 BST

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Retired shopworker Christine Regan was happy to swap her Portsmouth council-owned home in Leigh Park for a smaller two-bedroom terraced house in Blendworth Crescent last year where she moved in with her daughter.

However, after moving in she quickly discovered the previous tenant had dumped 'enormous' amounts of waste at the end of the garden before she left.

Christine, 67, contacted both the city council and the tenant for help - but neither were forthcoming.

Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021

Picture: Habibur Rahman — Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021 Picture: Habibur Rahman

Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021

Picture: Habibur Rahman — Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021 Picture: Habibur Rahman

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Instead she was quoted between £600 and £1,000 for its removal back in September by a private company.

'I broke down when I saw the rubbish,' she said.

'It was horrendous. There were mattresses piled up and even a fridge freezer and whatever else there. I couldn't get rid of it with just a few trips to the tip.

Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021

Picture: Habibur Rahman — Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021 Picture: Habibur Rahman

Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021

Picture: Habibur Rahman — Garden waste at Christine's garden in Leigh Park, Havant on 27 April 2021 Picture: Habibur Rahman

'The previous lady just refused to take it away and the council told me it was her responsibility.

'For a while I tried to ignore it but now I want to spend time in my garden I can't. And I have grandchildren but I wouldn't want them to play out there.

'My nephew was able to take a few of the bigger bits away for me but he couldn't keep coming down.'

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After The News contacted Portsmouth City Council for comment an officer has since visited Christine and informed her the waste will be taken away next week.

A council spokeswoman said: 'We have spoken to both the existing and former tenant and are working with them to get the rubbish removed as soon as possible.'

Christine added: 'I'm pleased they've confirmed this, I really hope the rubbish is taken away next week and I can enjoy my garden.

'It is frustrating that it's taken The News to get involved for this to get sorted.

'I know it's not Portsmouth council's fault, it was the other tenant but it can't stay like this.'

Although Leigh Park is in the Havant borough, much of the housing falls under Portsmouth council's remit.

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